Emerging Role of 2D Nanomaterials in the Design and Development of Optical Sensors: Mechanisms, Architectures, and Applications

The advanced development of two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials in optical sensor fields has greatly enhanced the sensitivity, selectivity, and quick response for the detection of bioanalytes and environmental pollutants. 2D materials, such as graphene, transition metal dichalcogenides, and MXenes, have unique properties, including high surface areas and optical-electronic tunability, making them suitable for the development of advanced sensors that promote biomolecule immobilization and signal amplification. These sensors are designed to have more accuracy in sensing biological markers, pollutants, and gases than conventional sensors. In the following decades, despite the high costs, poor biocompatibility, and poor stability of the synthesis, the discoveries of hybrid structures, surface functionalization, and device integration have made such optical sensors high-potential candidates with novel features. In this review, we address the main mechanisms, architectures, and applications of 2D nanomaterial-based optical sensors and emphasize their prospects in healthcare, environmental monitoring, and wearable devices.